The natural beaches, which are often peaceful bays with thick sand and calm waters, attract visitors to the coast of l’Alt Empordà, Baix Empordà and La Selva. The rugged outline of the coast containing these bays, with rocks, sea-cliffs and pine forests almost reaching the sea, provide the Costa Brava with a unique character. Among the main tourist centres are the municipalities of Roses, l’Escala, l’Estartit, Blanes, Lloret de Mar, Platja d’Aro, Sant Feliu de Guíxols and Palamós, apart from the sea-side villages of Cadaqués, Port de la Selva and Palafrugell. The sand and water quality are a result of an environmental effort that has been in implementation for years.Blanes, Torroella de Montgrí, l’Estartit, Palamós, Tossa de Mar, Sant Antoni de Calonge and Roses are family-tourism oriented.
Sport Tourism destinations are Lloret de Mar (water sports), Castelló d’Empúries – Empuriabrava (sky diving) and Banyoles (rowing, canoeing, swimming, cycling, MTB, running and triathlon).
The Natural Park of Cap de Creus offers views of the Pyrenean chain when diving into the Mediterranean Sea. The coastline is craggy and there are more than 300 species of fish as well as inland meadows and forests that allow migratory bird-watching. The Natural Park of Aiguamolls de l’Empordà is a wet area of about 5,000 hectares between the rivers Muga and Fluvià. There is a wide biodiversity of flora and bird species. Other areas of natural value are the Medes Islands (privileged scenario for diving practices), Banyoles and Sils lakes, and the massifs of Cadiretes (Tossa de Mar), Montgrí (Torroella de Montgrí) and Les Gavarres (Bisbal d’Empordà). The flora becomes a show in the botanic gardens of Marimurtra and Pinya de Rosa in Blanes, as well as from Cap Roig to Calella de Palafrugell and Santa Clotilde in Lloret de Mar.
The most ancient historical remains are in the Iberian village of Ullastret, a perfectly excavated, restored and exhibited site. There are also historical remains at the archeological site of Empuries, one of the most important in the Iberian Peninsula with regards to the Greek and Roman colonization. The huge heritage of Romanesque Art has its best representation in the architectural complex of the Benedictine Monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes, which was declared World Heritage by UNESCO. Other romanesque works are the collegiate church of Santa Maria de Vilabertran and the monastery of Sant Quirze de Colera. The medieval footprint is also relevant in the old district of Girona with one of the best preserved Jewish quarters in the country and the Cathedral of Santa Maria, not forgetting the well-preserved villages of Pals, Peratallada and the old walled village of Tossa de Mar.
L’Empordà is internationally known as Salvador Dalí’s birthplace. The Dalinian Triangle consists of the museum and the houses where the surrealist artist lived: The Dali Theatre-Museum in Figueres, —one of the most visited in Catalonia containing a large part of his artwork, the Púbol castle and the house in Portlligat, Cadaqués. Other cultural attractions on the Costa Brava are the music festivals of Torroella de Montgrí, Perelada, Cap Roig Gardens and Porta Ferrada, which gather together a wonderful selection of musicians and actors of all types year after year.